Derrick finger



W. A. GOFF DERRICK FINGER &pa, 20

Filed Jan. 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l J/VVi/V 70H. WILL/19M A. $0:

W. A. GQFF DERRICK FINGER Sept 20, 1938.

Filed Jan. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR Mum/*2 4. Gan-z Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE DERRICK FINGER William A. Goff, Long Beach, Calif. Application January 4, 1936, Serial No. 57,630

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a derrick finger particularly applicable for the drilling of deep bore holes, such as oil wells, and its purpose is to provide a brace or guiding member for pipe while it is being lowered or removed from the bore hole.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel derrick finger which can be swung into or out of operative position by manipulation of the operator in the derrick.

Another object is to provide a novel derrick finger of the character stated, which is automatically swung into or out of operative position when released by the derrick operator.

A further object is to provide a novel movable tip on the finger whereby the finger will not be broken when accidentally engaged by various drilling equipment.

Other objects, advantages and features vention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and

the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the derrick finger.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the finger in retracted position.

Figure 4 is an end view of the finger in the position as shown in Fig. 3, with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 5 is an end view of the latch plate on the finger.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the finger tip joint.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the tip moved to one side.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tip joint in plan.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the tip swung to one side.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fingertip.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latches for holding the finger in extended or retracted position.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame showing its mounting on a derrick member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the derrick which includes a horizontal member 2, this horizontal member being positioned a considerable distance above the floor of the derrick. A frame 3 is securely'fastened to the derrick member 2 and of inextends inwardly towards the pipe (not shown) which is supported in the derrick. The frame 3 is preferably a channel member, substantially as shown, altho other structural shapes may be used, if desired. The frame 3 may be attached to the member 2 by means of plates 4 or other suitable mounting means.

The finger 5 comprises a base member 6 and a tip 1 which is movably mounted on the outer end of the base. The base is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the frame 3 by the pin 8 which extends thru the frame and the base. The base 6 is preferably hollow for a purpose to be further described.

A latch plate 9 is provided on the inner end of the base 6 by means of which the finger is releasably held in horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the finger is in horizontal position, the latch plate projects thru a hole ill in the top of the frame 3.

A latch bolt H is slidably mounted on the top of the frame 3 and extends over the hole Hi. This bolt is yieldably pressed into engagement with the plate 9 for the purpose of holding the finger in horizontal position. The spring means whereby the bolt is urged into engagement with the plate will be subsequently described.

Asecond latch bolt l2, shaped as a bell crank lever-is adjacent the front end of the frame 3. A coil spring I3 engages the latch l2 and urges the latch into the catch I 4 in the base 6. The catch may be a slot, as shown, or some other analogous structure.

When the finger is in vertical position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch bolt l2 engages the finger releasably holding the same in vertical position. A link l5 connects the latch bolts H and I2 so that both of these latches work synchronously.

A trip cord i5 is attached to the bolt II and extends back to the derrick at a position convenient for the operator who pulls on the cord for the purpose of releasing the finger in either its horizontal or vertical position.

The tip 1 is provided with a curved boss I! which fits into the end of the base 6. One face of the boss is flat, as shown at l8, and this face fits against a wall of the base 6, as shown in' Fig. 8, so that the tip I cannot move horizontally in one direction. In the other horizontal direction, however, the tip can move as shown in Fig. 9. The tip may also move vertically up or down, as shown in Fig. 7. A stout spring 19 within the base 6 is attached to the tip I by a cable 20. Thus, the tip is yieldably held in alignment with the base 6 except when a load is placed on the tip, i. e., when the traveling blocks strike the tip. When an excessive load is placed on the tip, it will move vertically or in one direction horizontally, thus preventing injury to the tip. As soon as the load is released, the spring IE will carry the tip into its normal operative position.

A plurality of notches 2| maybe provided in the face of the tip I for the purpose of receiving the pipe which is being worked upon. A cable 22 is attached to the base 6 and extends over a sheave 23 and thence to a coil spring 24. The other end of the spring 24 is attached to a handle 25 by means of the cable 26.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

When the pipe is being run into the hole, and is actually moving, the finger 5 is in vertical position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The handle 25 has been moved upwardly, thus allowing a slack in the cable 22, and gravity will swing the base 6 downwardly until the latch bolt l2 engages the' base and releasably holds the base in vertical position. The operator then swings the handle 25 downwardly which places a tension in the spring 24. As soon as the finger is to be used, the operator pulls upon the cord I6 thereby releasing the bolt I2. The spring 24 then swings the finger into horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The latch ll then engages the plate 9, and the finger is fixedly held in horizontal position. After the finger has been used, the handle 25 is again moved upwardly, as previously described, and the latch H is released by the cord 16, whereupon the finger swings into vertical position, and the operation is repeated.

-Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In-a derrick finger, a horizontal frame fixedly mounted in the derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, said finger being adapted and ,;arranged to swing into a horizontal or vertical position, a latch means on the frame adapted to engage the finger in horizontal position, a second latch means on the frame adapted to engage the finger in vertical position, means engaging the first named latch, adapted to release the same and means engaging the last named latch and adapted to release the same.'

.2. In a derrick finger, a horizontal'frame fixedly mounted in a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, said finger being adapted and arranged to'swing into a horizontal or a vertical position, a latch means on the frame engageable with the finger when in horizontal position, a second latch means on the frame,

. engageable with the finger when in vertical position, means engaging the first named latch and adapted to release the same and spring means engaging the finger whereby the finger is yield ably urged into horizontal position from its vertical position.

the same and means engaging the last named latch and adapted to release the same, and a movable tip on said finger.

4. In a derrick finger, a horizontal frame fixedly mounted in aderrick, ,a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, said finger being adapted and arranged to swing into a horizontal or a vertical position, a latch means on the frame engageable with the finger when in horizontal position, a second latch means on the frame, engageable with the finger when in vertical position, means engaging the first named latch and adapted to release the same and spring means engaging the finger whereby the finger is yieldably urged into horizontal position from its vertical position, and a movable tip on said finger.

5. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the outer end of the frame, said finger being adapted and arranged to swing into horizontal or vertical positions, a latch on the frame engageable with the finger when in horizontal position, a second latch on the frame engageable with the finger, when in vertical position, release means engaging the last named latch.

6. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a 'derrick,:a finger pivotally mounted on the outer end of the frame, said finger being adapted and arranged to swing into horizontal or vertical positions, a latch on the frame engageable with the finger when in horizontal position, a second latch on the frame engageable with the finger, when in vertical position, release means engaging the last named latch, spring means engaging the finger, manual means attached to the spring whereby the spring is placed in tension, said spring -means yieldably urging the finger into horizontal position from its vertical position.

'7. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a' derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the outer end of the frame, said finger being adapted and'arranged to swing into horizontal or vertical positions, a latch on the frame engageable with the finger when in horizontal position, a second latch on the frame engageable with the finger, when in vertical position, release means engaging the last named latch, spring means engaging the finger, manual means attached to the spring whereby the spring is placed in tension, said spring means yieldably urging the finger into horizontal position from its vertical position, and ayieldable tip mounted on the finger.

8. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch plate on the finger, a latch bolt r mounted on the frame, said latch bolt being adapted to engage the latch plate whereby the finger is held in horizontal position, manual release means engaging the latch, a second latch bolt mounted on the frame, a catch on the finger, engageable by the second latch bolt, whereby the finger is held in vertical position and manual means engaging the second latch bolt whereby the second latch bolt is releasable from the finl.-

9. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch plate on the finger, a latch bolt mounted on the frame, said latch bolt being adapted to engage the latch plate whereby the finger is held in horizontal position, manual release means engaging the latch, a second latch bolt mounted on the frame, a catch on the finger, engageable by the second latch bolt, whereby the finger is held in vertical position and manual means engaging the second latch bolt whereby the second latch bolt is releasable from the finger, spring means attached to the finger, manual eans attached to the spring means urging the 76 finger into horizontal position when said spring means is in tension.

10. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly at tached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch plate on the finger, a latch bolt mounted on the frame, said latch bolt being engageable with the latch plate whereby the finger is held in horizontal position, manual release means attached to the latch, second latch bolt mounted on the finger, a catch on the finger engageable by the second latch bolt whereby the finger is held in vertical position and a link connecting the first and last' named latches.

11. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch plate on the finger, a latch bolt mounted on the frame, said latch bolt being engageable with the latch plate whereby the finger is held in horizontal position, manual release means attached to the latch, second latch bolt mounted on the finger, a catch on the finger engageable by the second latch bolt whereby the finger is held in vertical position and a link connecting the first and last named latches, and a yieldable tip mounted on the finger.

12. In a derrick finger, a frame fixedly attached to a derrick, a finger pivotally mounted on the frame, a latch plate on the finger, a latch bolt mounted on the frame, said bolt being engageable with the latch plate whereby the finger is held in horizontal position, manual release means attached to the latch, second latch bolt mounted on the finger, a catch on the finger engageable by the second latch bolt whereby the finger is held in vertical position and a link connecting the first and last named latches, spring means attached to the finger, manual means engaging the spring means whereby the spring means is placed in tension, said spring means urging the finger into horizontal position, and a yieldable tip on the finger.

WILLIAM A. GOFF. 

